Plenary, 02 Jun 2005

Meeting date: Thursday, June 2, 2005

Official Report 796KB pdf

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Question Time

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SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Education and Young People, Tourism, Culture and Sport

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Youth Festivals

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution events like youth festivals make to Scotland's culture and tourism sectors. (S2O-6904)

We recognise that youth festivals are an important part of Scotland's cultural sector. There are also a number of events and festivals held across Scotland that contain significant youth or children's elements. All those events attract visitors and media attention to the area concerned. That is why EventScotland supports the Aberdeen international youth festival and other regional events such as big in Falkirk and word, which is the University of Aberdeen's writers festival.

I thank the minister for her answer. I am particularly pleased that she mentioned the Aberdeen international youth festival, in which I have a declared interest as a trustee. I hope that she can confirm today that she will attend the festival this year. Does she agree that festivals such as the one in Aberdeen are extremely important in encouraging young people to participate in the arts and to make long-lasting international friendships? Does she further agree that all those who are involved in the excellent Aberdeen international youth festival, which has now been going for more than 30 years, should be congratulated on organising 10 days of activities that will be enjoyed by young people not only from Scotland but from as far afield as China?

I am grateful to Nanette Milne for giving me the opportunity to recognise the good work that goes on both in Aberdeen and elsewhere and, in particular, the contribution made by volunteers, trustees and patrons such as Nanette Milne. The event to which she refers is a particularly important one, which is why I am so pleased that EventScotland was able to support it this year by giving some assistance.

I have also been interested to hear about the Aberdeen storytelling and theatre festival. I understand that, this year, it is hoped that the festival will be even bigger than it has been in previous years. We can be confident that a number of cultural activities of particular interest to young people and children are happening this year. Diary permitting, I would very much like to attend.

I am afraid that Mr Harper is not present to ask question 2. That is very regrettable from the point of view of the public in the gallery, from the point of view of ministers, who now lose their opportunity to make their points and—most important, I think—from the point of view of members who wished to ask supplementary questions. That is all lost. Members must make the effort to be here to ask their questions.

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European Union Education Ministers (Meetings)

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons can be learned from fellow European Union education ministers following recent meetings in Brussels. (S2O-6980)

I met representatives from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the Flemish Community of Belgium in Brussels last week to share ideas about our common interests and how we might learn from one another. It is useful to compare and contrast our approaches to education with those of other European nations and regions, and I plan to have further such discussions.

I am sure that the minister will have picked up a few tips from his fellow ministers. Being a member of this broad-minded Parliament, I ask the minister what lessons the EU can learn from us.

Members have no idea how relieved I am that that was not a question about the European constitution.

Michael McMahon is right to raise the fact that we can learn from other nations. That is exactly why we have such discussions. It is useful to contrast with others how we perform and to find out what they have found helpful for their own success.

It is equally true to say that we have things to offer other countries. In my discussions last week, it was clear that people are very interested in what we do to induct new teachers into our teaching profession and in how we have changed that in recent years. They are interested in how we use self-evaluation to help to improve performance in our schools and in our exam system and how we set standards for exams. They are also interested in teacher registration. Given what has been said recently about vocational courses in our schools, it is interesting that other countries are also examining some of the same things that we have been looking at in our school-college review in order to ensure that there is a closer link between schools and vocational education and to avoid doing what many countries in the rest of Europe have been doing, which is to separate completely vocational courses from non-vocational or academic streaming in schools.

I could go on. For example, there is also interest in our enterprise education, in which Scotland leads the world, in our public-private partnership approach, through which we are rebuilding our school estate, and in how we keep our staying-on rates for schools high in comparison with many countries.

There are many things that we can learn; equally, there are many things that we can contribute to a wider European understanding of education.

There is an almost tangible sense of expectation in the chamber. I call Phil Gallie.

I congratulate the minister on the first part of his answer. Does not that show what can be achieved in Europe when people co-operate, work together and learn from one another? However, he will be aware of the recent votes on the European constitution—

Make sure this is relevant, Mr Gallie.

Does the minister agree with me—for a change—that everything about the European constitution is all that is bad: compulsion, regulation and enforcement? He was right in his first response. Does he agree with me now?

I tend not to agree with Phil Gallie on most things European. I am a strong supporter of a strong Europe. Since the war, we have benefited in finding security, peace and co-operation, which are hugely important not just to this country but to Europe as a whole. I applaud what the European Union has done over the years; equally, it would be quite wrong for me to interfere in the proper democratic decisions made in other parts of Europe in the past few days. Some constitutional reform in Europe is required. One has only to attend a European education council meeting to realise how much reform is still needed.

Is the minister content with Scotland's current representation under existing treaties with regard to European education, and science and technology education in particular? Previously we have not been represented properly, because United Kingdom Governments have not addressed the issue of science and technology education in Scotland. Did he address that issue at his recent meeting with ministers from other European countries?

We covered a number of issues and touched on science in the broadest of terms. I cannot say that we had deep discussions about it, but we intend to return to all sorts of discussions in the future. On the point about representation, I am of course satisfied that Scotland is well represented in Europe, not least because Scottish ministers lead the UK delegation at council meetings, as I did last week in Brussels.

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Education (Parental Involvement)

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage more parents to become involved in their children's education. (S2O-6986)

We are determined to increase parental involvement in education. We have issued the first five titles in the making the difference series for parents; we are consulting on a draft bill to give parents more opportunities to take decisions locally; and this week we are launching parent partnership projects, which will provide schools with funding for local projects.

I recently attended a meeting of school board members from West Lothian, who were concerned that changes made to school boards by the Scottish Executive would reduce parental involvement in schools. Is that the minister's intention, and would he be willing to take suggestions from parents as to how school boards could be improved so that they offer more opportunities for parents to be involved in their children's education?

I am grateful to Mary Mulligan for asking that question. My clear intention is to seek to extend and enrich parental involvement. We want to do that because we know that if we can engage parents to support the learning of children such as those in the gallery from Inverkip Primary School, educational outcomes will improve as a consequence. The concept is simple: we want parents to be actively involved.

I am conscious of the anxieties that exist in school boards about the nature of the changes that we are proposing, but I stress a number of points. First, we are consulting parents—the consultation is open—and we are listening to what they have to say, which addresses one of the points that Mary Mulligan raised. We have sponsored a dozen meetings, and many others are taking place. We have already had 400-plus representations. I have met representatives of the Scottish School Board Association and other school board representatives in different settings. I stress that we are listening.

I do not think that that any draft bill that has gone out to consultation has not had changes made to it before it got to its final stages in Parliament. I anticipate that that will happen with the draft Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill, on which we are consulting. We want not only to keep the best of what we have, but to provide more flexibility and choice and to adapt systems as we proceed. We want to involve more parents, because one of the weaknesses of the current legislation is that, by statutory definition, only 1 per cent of parents can be involved in their school board.

The issue is not just about representation; it is also about how we can encourage parents to get involved every day in supporting their child's learning. That is why we intend to use the draft bill to place on local authorities new duties actively to promote parental involvement and to increase rights to information in that context. That is about getting more successful pupils.

Does the minister agree that the draft Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill threatens to remove parents' current right to statutory representation, a move that is particularly perplexing in the light of the comments that were made by the Executive in a new 2004 foreword to the guidance on the School Boards (Scotland) Act 1988, which said that boards were in

"a unique position as a mechanism for the two-way flow of information between parents, schools and education authorities"?

Will the minister accept that the point that Mary Mulligan made has also occurred to us and that she is making valid and legitimate representations?

I completely agree that Mary Mulligan is making valid and legitimate representations. I have made it clear that we are listening. We are engaged in a consultation process, the aim of which is to increase parental involvement. As a result of our initial consultation, it is already clear that there are areas in which our proposals can be strengthened, which is what we intend to do.

Equally, I have to say that I do not think that what Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has said is correct. We are not proposing to remove statutory recognition. New parental forums would have the same statutory recognition that school boards currently have. Again, I stress that we want to ensure that more parents have more opportunities to become involved. From the research that we have done, we know that many parents find the current system off-putting. They say that they are reluctant to participate, that the systems are formal and enclosed and that they feel intimidated by the bodies that they would have to become involved with. We want to remove the impediments to their involvement and encourage more representation. We are listening to what we are being told in that regard. I will listen closely to any constructive suggestions that Lord James Douglas-Hamilton or anyone else has to make, but I will not accept any ideological myopia on this subject.

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Leisure Facilities

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a strategy to ensure that young people in all communities have adequate access to leisure facilities. (S2O-6982)

The statutory responsibility to ensure that there is adequate provision of and access to leisure facilities lies with local authorities. It is for them to determine local needs and priorities.

The minister might be aware that I have had a long-standing interest in establishing the views of young people, particularly those between the ages of 12 and 16, with regard to what they want to do with their leisure time. Does she agree that it is important to have good research and information on what young people want to do with their time? Does she further agree that it is important that the Executive work hand in hand with local authorities to develop a strategy to counterbalance the issues in the antisocial behaviour debate? The majority of young people would benefit from having available to them facilities from which they could choose. It might even enhance the reputation of our Parliament in the eyes of young people if we were active on this issue.

Pauline McNeill makes a valid point. I agree with her about the need to involve young people in the decision-making process on this issue and on a range of others. I hope that the new community planning process might give them such a voice.

A couple of specific examples have worked particularly well. The Executive has a particular strength with regard to our cross-cutting approach and I have been able to work with the ministers with responsibility for justice on the twilight basketball and football leagues, which have been popular with young people in Glasgow and have diverted them from other activities that they might otherwise participate in.

I am also aware that Glasgow City Council has recently undertaken an audit of its facilities, and it occurs to me that Pauline McNeill might like to raise with the local authority the possibility of running a complementary exercise that would discuss those facilities with young people and find out where any gaps might be.

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Coastal Paths

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage area tourist boards to promote the coastal path network. (S2O-6973)

In areas where the costal path network is a high priority, for example in Fife, VisitScotland has entered into a partnership agreement to promote the coastal path in conjunction with local partners.

I welcome the introduction of the coastal path network, particularly in Fife, and have seen at first hand the benefits that it has brought to the community that I represent. As the minister is aware, the Fife coastal path is accessible to wheelchair users and people who use mobility scooters. Indeed, organisations such as Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers have made use of that welcome facility. What steps are being taken to promote access for users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters not just to the Fife coastal path but to paths throughout Scotland?

I was not aware of that aspect of the project and am obviously very pleased to hear about it. I know that the Fife coastal partnership is currently funding marketing activities such as brochure production, website promotion, direct mail and press trips to locations. Local businesses have also been encouraged to adopt the walkers welcome scheme, which is also part of such a partnership. That said, it would be entirely sensible for the partnership to consider the possibility of providing additional information on access for people who have disabilities or who use aids to mobility. I will certainly take the matter up with VisitScotland.

Fife is clearly to be congratulated on its coastal path. Indeed, a pan-Scotland coastal path from Gretna to north of Berwick would have considerable mileage, if not benefits. What role would the Executive have in bringing together all councils with maritime seaboards to introduce such a coastal path, which would have considerable tourism potential?

As I understand it, there are already a number of what could be called core paths, which should link up to provide a core path network. However, I would be more than happy to consider any possibility for the Executive—or, at least, this part of the Executive—to become involved in helping and encouraging such a project. Perhaps Mr Morgan might like to discuss the matter with me after question time.

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Health (Sport)

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will further promote the link between active sport and achieving the target of a healthier nation. (S2O-6930)

The Executive is fully committed to improving the nation's health and well-being and regards sport and physical activity as playing a key role in achieving that aim. We are determined to play our part in helping to meet the targets of sport 21, which mirror those set out in the report of the physical activity task force.

Does the minister agree that increasing the number of full-time trained physical education teachers in the primary school sector would be one of the best investments that this country could make?

As Mr Arbuckle knows from previous debates, a big move is currently under way to encourage an increase in the number of PE teachers. I should also point out that the University of Strathclyde and Glasgow City Council are running a course that allows existing primary teachers to develop PE specialisms. The Education Department has had discussions with the deans of faculties of education at higher education institutions and is considering how that course can be rolled out elsewhere.

Question 8 is in the name of Donald Gorrie. [Interruption.]

I have had a note from Mr Harper, indicating his apology to the chamber for missing his question because of a mistake in his timing. I cannot imagine what has happened to Mr Gorrie, but I apologise on the chamber's behalf to Mr Robson who, as a result, entirely misses out on this afternoon's question time.

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Sportscotland (Funding Distribution)

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the distribution of funding from sportscotland to each local authority area. (S2O-6992)

The Executive does not monitor how funding from sportscotland is distributed to each local authority area. Sportscotland operates a range of application-based programmes, and funding is awarded against set criteria.

Is the minister aware of North Lanarkshire Council's concerns over receiving sufficient money for its applications? Does she agree that sportscotland's funding has a cross-cutting element, in that it not only encourages greater physical activity but tackles ill health and deals with antisocial behaviour through the diversionary measures that have already been mentioned this afternoon? As a result, it is important that there is an increase in applications from local authority areas that have particular difficulties with ill health and antisocial behaviour. Does she also agree that local authorities and voluntary organisations must be creative in their thinking about what they can do with that money?

I agree entirely with what Karen Whitefield has suggested. In fact, there was an application from her own local authority in Lanarkshire for funding under the regional sports facilities programme and an award of some £5 million was made. The local authority is currently working with sportscotland to take that project forward to the second stage. Local authorities should take the opportunities that they have under that programme and a range of others operated by sportscotland. Sometimes those programmes cannot be broken down by individual local authority area because they may have a more cross-cutting nature.

We also wish to encourage local authorities to operate across boundaries, where that is appropriate and where they wish to do so, because it often makes sense to do that in the provision of facilities. As Karen Whitefield said, it is important for local authorities to think creatively, and there are partnership managers in place at sportscotland who will facilitate that process if local authorities wish to access it.

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Finance and Public Services and Communities

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Public-private Partnerships (Green Space)

To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation it has made of the impact of public-private partnership financing on community resources such as green space. (S2O-6917)

The Executive has not carried out any such evaluation. Regardless of the source of financing, it is the responsibility of individual public sector procuring bodies to assess their needs and priorities when instigating infrastructure projects. Any such assessment will include consideration of community elements.

The minister will be aware of last evening's members' business debate on the loss of playing fields and open space, during which several members highlighted the adverse impact of PPP school building projects in particular, which are putting development pressure on playing fields and green space that are in council ownership. That concern has also been expressed by sportscotland. Will the minister act to relieve that pressure by helping councils to close the affordability gap that is associated with PPP schemes, and enhance councils' ability to acquire new sites for schools while protecting community green space?

The Scottish Executive already supplies significant amounts of finance for PPP projects. Local government in Scotland is enjoying unprecedented levels of finance—higher than ever in our history. There is not necessarily a direct correlation between PPP and green space. National planning policy guideline 11 addresses concerns about the use of open space, including playing fields, and confirms that playing fields should not be developed unless certain stringent conditions are met. There is also a requirement for sportscotland to be consulted on any application that would prejudice, or lead to the loss of, playing fields. If any planning authority or local authority is minded to grant permission against the advice of sportscotland, it is required to refer that decision to Scottish ministers.

The PPP school building programmes are giving rise to situations in which local authorities, as partners in PPP consortia, are applying to themselves for planning permission. That situation has given rise to major concerns in communities in the Stirling area. Can the minister assure us that his department will scrutinise such applications with rigour and ensure that, where proposals are at odds with local and structure plan provisions or where the application of due process is found to be flawed, there will be a public inquiry.

Adequate provision exists. If a situation such as that which was outlined by Mr Ruskell should occur, there is a requirement to refer the application to Scottish ministers for further consideration. I believe that the requirements that are already in place give more than adequate protection. Of course, if there were any evidence that the existing system is in some way failing to protect, we would always be prepared to review it. However, we do not believe that any such evidence exists.

Ted Brocklebank.

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase efficiency in government.

I am sorry, Mr Brocklebank, but you are on screen as seeking to ask a supplementary question to Mr Ingram's.

I am sorry. I pressed my button to alert you to the fact that I wanted to come in later.

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Retail Developments (Planning)

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address any concerns about the planning process in respect of retail developments. (S2O-6963)

The Executive will soon publish a planning white paper and a consultation paper on a revision to planning policy in respect of town centres and retailing.

I think the minister is aware that there has been considerable celebration in Portobello during the past week following the decision of an inquiry reporter to reject plans for an unwanted superstore in the area. Is he also aware that, despite that result, those of us who have been involved in the process over the past two years believe that it has brought into sharp focus a number of weaknesses and deficiencies in the decision-making process? Will he agree to meet me to reflect on that local experience so that it might inform thinking and policy at national level, particularly given the plans for forthcoming planning reform?

I would certainly be delighted to meet Susan Deacon to discuss those issues. She has raised them with me already, so I know something about her concerns, but a further meeting would be most welcome.

I pay tribute to the role that Susan Deacon played in the campaign. I know that several key issues about the conduct of inquiries, the need to ensure that we engage early with communities and speeding up the planning process have been raised by that application as well as many others.

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Public Services (Efficiency)

To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures efficiency in the public services. (S2O-6946)

When I gave evidence to the Finance Committee on 10 May, I made it clear that we are committed to making government more efficient and to saving money for the people of Scotland by delivering the same outputs in the public sector with fewer inputs. We are also looking for ways to improve public services by freeing up staff time to deliver more outputs with the same inputs.

I am sure that we all share those laudable objectives. Is the minister aware of the difficulties that may be created by accounting for costs in the apparently simple-minded way that is outlined in the current proposals to release staff from their present positions? The difficulty is that the cost of a member of staff is not the same as the cost that is saved by moving that member of staff because the overheads are not moved if a member of staff is moved. Will he examine carefully the real savings and not what in many cases are the fantasy savings that are shown in the paperwork that the Executive has published?

I reject the notion that there is any fantasy about the figures that the Executive has published. The fantasy is in the peculiar situations that Mr Stevenson regularly suggests to Parliament.

There is no contradiction in our presentation of the information. We have never said that the saving is any different because a member of staff has been moved. What we have said is that there are opportunities, through the use of technology and through closer co-operation between organisations, for staff who currently engage in support services to retrain and to be available for the supply of services directly at the front line. People can feel and touch those services and they can see the difference that they make to the quality of their lives day to day.

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Prime Minister's Delivery Unit

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the work of the delivery unit at Whitehall and whether the Executive undertakes a similar approach with regard to achieving its priorities. (S2O-6987)

We take our own distinctive approach to monitoring and reporting the Executive's priorities. We are of course aware of the work of the Prime Minister's delivery unit in London. Officials here in Scotland have regular contact with that unit and share good practice with it.

The minister will be aware that Professor Barber addressed the Finance Committee on 17 May. He described to the committee a process by which monthly reports on key milestones for the 20 top priorities, such as waiting time reductions, are monitored so that progress can be tracked and ministers know whether they are on target to achieve objectives. Is there a similar element within the Executive's distinctive approach that enables ministers to know whether they are on target to achieve what they want to achieve?

We have established an efficient government delivery unit within the Executive. The unit regularly reports to me. Ministers who are responsible for individual portfolios are aware of their responsibility to deliver savings. As I have said before, we are serious about efficient government. We seek to realise government's potential to release resources for the front line, to supply services to the people of Scotland far more effectively and efficiently and to create new services that better serve our needs in Scotland.

I confirm that we have recently discussed our efficient government work with senior ministers at Westminster. I am happy to confirm that they acknowledged the positive work that we are doing on efficient government here in Scotland.

An important element in Professor Barber's findings was that focusing on a small number of targets that were adopted by both ministers and senior civil servants led to both sides pulling together. Does the minister believe that the civil service in Scotland can learn things from the work of the Prime Minister's delivery unit? Instead of focusing on 400 partnership objectives, can we narrow those down to the most important priorities?

Indeed. We need to separate the 400-odd targets that are the focus of the partnership agreement from the specific efficient government targets. As I said, we believe that our efficient government measures will release resources that will allow us to focus on new services and to consider how we can deliver our work far more effectively.

As I mentioned, regular exchanges take place between officials in Scotland and officials down south. I have stressed that we need to be open minded and ready to learn from one another's experience. That is why we have such exchanges between officials and that is why I intend to have a specific discussion with the Gershon team in London, in addition to my recent discussions with my ministerial colleagues there. I am glad to be able to confirm, as I said a few moments ago, that we received an encouraging response from them about how we are going about that work here in Scotland.

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Contaminated Land (Safeguards)

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place within the planning process to protect communities living close to contaminated land where development of that land is being proposed. (S2O-6920)

Under the Environment Act 1995, a new regime for identification and remediation of contaminated land came into force in Scotland in July 2000. The interaction between that regime and the planning system is set out in planning advice note 33, "Development of Contaminated Land"

Glasgow and Clyde valley structure plan committee has recommended that some 2,300 houses and factories be built on the site of the former Royal Ordnance factory in Bishopton, Renfrewshire. Currently, there is no full audit of all chemicals and biological materials that were used, produced and stored at the site over the past 150 years, nor is there full audit mapping of the storage, containment and disposal of materials on site. Will the minister reassure the local community that such basic information will be required before any alteration to the structure plan is approved by ministers? Is she aware that, to date, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been unable to play a full role because Renfrewshire Council has failed to register the site as being contaminated?

I am aware of some of those issues because Trish Godman, the local MSP, has raised with me the issue of the proposed development. Obviously, I do not want to speak directly about an individual development that may come before Scottish ministers in the future.

The regime that is in place for contaminated land is serious and includes a commitment to understanding the anxieties of communities about contamination. Local authorities have a duty to investigate for contaminated land and to take remedial measures. Before any change of land use is granted, it is essential that contamination be assessed and risks identified, taking into account what the change in use is for. If necessary, the local authority must carry out the remediation work or ensure that such work is part of the planning conditions, in which case the challenge is enforcement. However, a model planning condition exists that can be submitted and approved by the planning authority. I am sure that we all share a commitment to and an understanding of the importance of local authorities carrying out those responsibilities.

Question 6 was not lodged.

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Credit Unions

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the credit union movement. (S2O-6961)

The Executive is committed to supporting the work of credit unions as part of the financial inclusion action plan and the overall closing the opportunity gap approach. We launched a £1.1 million capacity fund in September 2003 to increase credit unions' ability to help low-income households to gain access to financial services.

I acknowledge and welcome the various methods of support that the deputy minister outlined. I look forward to welcoming her colleague, the Minister for Communities, to Drumchapel Community Credit Union tomorrow, so that he can meet its members and celebrate its 35th anniversary. The minister will be aware of the recent European Commission ruling regarding the effect of the removal of the cap on Government funding for credit unions, which currently stands at £68,000 over three years. Does the Executive welcome the ruling and intend to examine the level of financial support that it provides to credit unions, in order to make best use of the removal of the cap?

I welcome the question from Bill Butler, who as a fellow co-operator has indicated in the past his full commitment to credit unions. I pass on my congratulations to Drumchapel Community Credit Union on its anniversary. I not only welcome the decision on European Community state aid but think that we should congratulate the Scottish Executive on its pioneering role in pursuing the matter with the European Union and delivering on it. We should recognise that, as a consequence, other countries in the United Kingdom will pursue their notifications.

This is a welcome opportunity. We believe that credit unions have a particular role to play in addressing the problem of financial exclusion. We know that people in poor communities suffer disproportionately from that, as a consequence of some of the regulations that relate to the financial sector. We are keen for credit unions to play a role in supporting people in poor and disadvantaged communities, so that they can maximise the benefits to those people of being able to save.

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Social Housing (Modernisation)

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to modernise social housing in Glasgow. (S2O-6978)

Unprecedented levels of investment will go into the social housing stock in Glasgow city, with £1.5 billion being invested over a 10-year period in Glasgow Housing Association stock. This year, £127 million is being invested. In the current year, we will also invest more than £68 million in the city to improve the quality and availability of social housing that is provided by other housing associations.

I welcome the scale of investment that the minister has identified for Glasgow's obvious housing need. I recognise the work that has been done and the quality of housing regeneration that has taken place in the new Gorbals area in my constituency. It is now almost impossible to distinguish between housing that is owner-occupied and housing that is socially rented, which is an incredible achievement. Can he say what progress has been made on the target of achieving second-stage transfers in Glasgow, to ensure that many other communities across the city benefit from quality developments similar to those in the Gorbals?

I was pleased recently to see housing developments in Frank McAveety's constituency, although not the particular development to which he refers. Along with Johann Lamont, I had a meeting recently with the Glasgow Housing Association to discuss second-stage transfers and other issues. We will have a follow-up meeting within the next few weeks. We are keen that second-stage transfers should go ahead as fast as possible. Some details regarding the disaggregation of stock are still to be resolved, but he can be assured that we are strongly committed to the process of second-stage transfer and to its taking place as soon as possible. We will repeat the point and get an update on the situation at our next meeting later this month.

Question 9 has been withdrawn.

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Efficiency in Government

I apologise for slightly jumping the gun earlier, Presiding Officer.

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase efficiency in government. (S2O-6943)

Our plans for increasing the efficiency of public services in Scotland were set out in the document "Building a Better Scotland: Efficient Government—Securing Efficiency, Effectiveness and Productivity", which was published in November 2004. The efficiency technical notes that were published at the end March this year contain more details of the projects that we have identified to deliver cash-releasing savings. An updated version of the document, including the technical notes for projects that we have identified to deliver time-releasing savings, will be published in the near future.

Following Duncan McNeil's questions to the First Minister this morning, does the minister accept yesterday's highly critical report from Audit Scotland that at least one local authority—Lib Dem-run Inverclyde Council—had absolutely no way of knowing whether or not it was delivering council services efficiently? Does he accept that Inverclyde is not alone among Scottish councils in showing what Audit Scotland calls a lack of "effective leadership and direction"? Can he give Parliament a categorical assurance that he will intervene directly to force other failing councils to implement the efficiency measures to which he and the Executive have committed themselves?

I think that Mr Brocklebank might be in unintentional danger of misquoting the Accounts Commission. It did not say that other councils were guilty of mismanagement in that sense. The report to which he refers is about Inverclyde Council specifically. I have made it perfectly clear that I find the circumstances that the report discovered to be completely unacceptable and I have made it clear to that council that I expect to see a recovery plan put in place along with timescales. I have said that I will attend that council personally early next week to reinforce that point. I have also pointed out to the council that should I and the Executive not see the required level of correction, other powers are available to us.

However, I stress that the Accounts Commission also said that some of the difficulties that it has uncovered have been in existence since 1996.